Pattern drum operating mechanism



mgs 14, 1945. WAWZONEK 2 382 757 PATTERN DRUM OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 12, 1944 curate.

Patented Aug. 14, 1945 Joseph Wawzonek, Central :.Falls,'iiR.. -I.', .assignor, to Hemphill Company, Central .Falls, R. 'I., a corporation of Massachusetts Application August 12, 1944, Serial No. 549,269

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in operating mechanisms for pattern drums and the like. The drum of this invention is turned in properly timed relation tothe knitting cycle by means of a ratchet and pawl. This is a customary means of operating such a device. However, the operating mechanism in this instance is simpler, more reliable and more ac- Although the device is adapted particularly for use on circular knitting machines of the Banner type it may be applied to other circular knitting machines or, in fact, to any type of knitting machine where a mechanism of this character can be used.

One form of the invention is shown in the drawing of which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation showing a pattern drum partly in section and the pawl and ratchet by means of which it is operated;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the pawl and ratchet;

Fig. 3 is a view illustrating the operating connections between the pawl andthe means for controlling it; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary View generally similar to Fig. 2 also illustrating the relation between the pawl and ratchet.

As shown in Fig. 1 the pattern drum I consists of a cylinder 2 provided with a hub 3 b means of which it is rotatably mounted upon a shaft 4 aflixed to and projecting from a stationary support 5. The pattern'drum I is provided with the usual disks 6 the outer edges of which are composed of frangible rectangular butts. These can be broken out so that the control of jacks or other selectors by the drum can be conformed to any desired fabric pattern. Pattern drums of this character are well-known so that no further description is required.

Afiixed to one'end of the pattern drum. I is a ratchet wheel 'I. At one point of the edge of the ratchet wheel is a recess which is filled by an insert 8, the outer edge of which is flush with the tips of the remaining part of the related ratchet teeth (Figs. 1, 2 and 4) Associated with ratchet wheel I is a pawl 9 operated by a rocker II] from any suitable source of power so as to turn the ratchet intermittently in one direction in accordance with the requirements of the pattern. How this is done is also well-known and need not be described in further detail.

In addition to turning the pattern drum so that the desired pattern will be produced in the knitted fabric it is also essential that the drum be automatically retimed for the beginning of another pattern, say, in another stocking. To accomplish this, rocker I0 which operates pawl 9 is mounted on a shaft II which is slideable in a bearing I2. certain position by a spring I3.

When the device is arranged as shown in Fig. l, pawl 9 is positioned with respect to ratchet I so that it will pass by insert 8. Therefore, it will continue to turn pattern drum I as long as it is operated by'rocker I0. However, if shaft II is caused to slide up a little by a suitable operating means such, for example, as the rocker I4 and rod I5 (Figs. 1 and 3) it will still operate upon ratchet I until it rides up on insert 8. Then it will be unable to turn the pattern drum further even though rocker Ill continues in operation (Fig. 4).

Whenever it is desired to start the pattern drum again, the mechanism controlling rocker I4 and shaft I5 operates so as to permit spring I3 to move rocker I0 and pawl 9 back to its original position shown in Fig. 1. will move laterally from insert 8 and will engage the ratchet teeth alongside to turn the pattern drum, provided, of course, rocker II! is in opera- .tion.

B this means the turning of pattern drum I can be automatically arrested at a certain point even though the other pattern control continue to operate or, if desired, pattern drum I may be turned through any number of revolutions, simply by controlling the position of pawl 9 with respect to insert 8 as above described.

Heretofore it has been customary to omit or fill up one or more ratchet teeth to stop the operating pawl from acting while the pawl operating means is in action. In such cases it has been necessary to employ a second pawl to turn the ratchet temporarily until the regular pawl has cleared the space on the ratchet from which the teeth were omitted and again can engage the teeth. It not infrequently happens that this double arrangement fails to function or functions improperly because of wear or other reasons.

By confining the operation of the pattern drum to a single pawl as with this invention the control is more certain and more accurate. Also it is simpler and saving of space which is. always an important consideration in circular knitting machines.

Although this device has been described as a means for turning a pattern drum, obviously, it can be applied to any pawl and ratchet operated Normally shaft II is urged into a In do doing, pawl 9 device in relation'to which a similar problem is prevent-ed.

I claim:

1. A means for controlling a pawl and ratchet operated device for a knitting machine consisting of a ratchet wheel aflix'ed to the device and having teeth around its periphery, a recess in one edge of said ratchet, an insert in said recess the outer end of which is at least flush with the tips of said teeth, a pawl adapted to engage the teeth of said ratchet to turn said device and means for positioning said pawl so as to be engageable with all of the teeth of said ratchet and for positioning it so as to be engageable with all of said teeth with the exception of those in alignment with said insert.

2. A means for controlling a pawl and ratchet operated device for a knitting machine consisting of a ratchet affixed to the device and having teeth around its periphery, a pawl adapted to engage with said teeth to turn said ratchet, means on said ratchet for preventing said pawl from engaging certain of said teeth and means for pcsitioning said pawl so that it will be engageable with all of the teeth of said ratchet and for repositioning it so that it will be engageable with all of the teeth of said ratchet with the exception of those protected by said preventing means.

JOSEPH WAWZONEK. 

